In our daily lives, we are constantly confronted with choices and decision-making situations. We often depart from perfection and rationality during this process due to our experiences and beliefs. The way we enter data into such formal decision-making processes is often biased. Moreover, sometimes we have multiple biases operating simultaneously or in some sequence, making developing a high-quality decision or action even more challenging. In deciphering truth, logic, process and focus, which are vital components of critical thinking, are of high value. Critical thinking allows you to routinely apply intellectual standards to your elements of reasoning, minimise non-rational choices, and develop other soft skills that can improve individual and organisational decisions. As individuals and professionals, it is salient that you learn how to develop and strengthen your critical thinking abilities to help you achieve outstanding success. How do you approach decision-making situations? What biases do you hold in high esteem, and what purpose do they serve? Considering its overall impact, what techniques do you apply to meet decision-making demands? All of the answers to these questions are included in this deck. You'll also learn: How systematic biases affect our judgment and decision-making. Unprecedented steps and strategies to develop to make more effective decisions. The key features and techniques of the RED framework. Understand the importance and function of critical thinking in the organisation's culture.

1. Cracking The Critical Thinking Code
Foolproof strategies to improve your critical thinking skills and approach judgement and
decision-making.

2. The Interplay between
Judgement style and
decision making quality
Every day, we have the opportunity to make
countless rational decisions (such as weighing the
costs and benefits of a choice) but our cognitive
limitations prevent us from being fully rational.
Our approach and decision-making style impact
judgment and the quality of the choices we make
as an individual or an organisation.

3. How then can we
improve our overall
critical thinking
abilities given that
we will constantly
need to make
decisions?

4. 4
Critical Thinking is
about…
• actively and skillfully conceptualising, applying,
analysing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating
information gathered from, or generated by,
observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or
communication, as a guide to belief and action.
 It is not about taking information at face value but a
process that entails effectively evaluating the
truthfulness and the value of the information and
opinions we get in a purposeful and systematic
manner to reach an overall conclusion.
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5. They reflect on choices, filter information using techniques,
and focus on what the core is
Capability to think about issues in an objective and critical
way
Evaluate arguments, and can identify inconsistencies &
errors in reasoning
Adept at identifying bias and suspending judgment
Understand the accurate connections between ideas.
What salient features differentiates an
effective Critical Thinker?

6. Critical thinkers have specific traits that
allow them to think the way they do. Some
people are predisposed to these traits, while
others need to develop them actively.
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7. Critical
Thinking
Skills
problems
solving
skills
Creativity
Observation
Analysis
Decision-
making
skills
Critical Thinking Skills
To make more effective
decisions, you must master
some crucial critical thinking
skills. These skills serve as a
bedrock for activating your
rational thoughts; focusing on
them can put you on the path
to becoming an exceptional
critical thinker.

8. “Facts vs Our Beliefs”
Biases affect our critical thinking skills. Judgment is usually biased and these biases are created
by the tendency to short-circuit a rational decision process by relying on a number of simplifying
strategies.
There are five biases that tend to impact our ability to assess and look at data to draw accurate
conclusions or make high-quality decisions
Biases in Our Decision Process

9. Five
Common
Biases
Availability
Generalisations
Anchoring
Confirmation
Escalation of Commitment
1
2
3
4
5
This means choosing solutions that we recognise or are most
familiar and comfortable with.
It involves drawing conclusions from a small sample that may
not be a representative sample of a population.
When an initial assumption on a particular issue or problem is
shaped by first information and affects subsequent reasoning
searching for data that is supportive of your point of view,
intuition, or preference in order to disregard data that is contrary
to it.
investing in a course of action even though the statistics and
evidence indicate that it will fail.

10. Minimising predominant
biases
• To enhance your overall critical thinking skills, you
should be aware of when biases are having a
negative impact or hindering you from making high-
quality decisions.
• Stay well informed by gaining broader knowledge
and asking pertinent questions.
• Be skeptical and ready to probe further
• It is useful to do a self-check on your reasoning
process
• Apply a systematic decision-making process to
evaluate the balance between your emotional and
rational mind.
• Be cognizant and aware of the bias and then
manage them.

11. > >>
THE CRITICAL
THINKING MODEL (RED)

12. Evaluate Arguments
objectively and accurately
assessing quality of information
E
Draw Conclusions
Making decisions that logically
backs the evidence and data
given
D
The Critical Thinking Model (RED)
Recognise Assumptions
Ability to separate facts
from opinions
R

13. How do you reframe a topic to get
facts?
Recognise Assumptions
• Recognising assumptions involves separating facts
from opinion and framing the topic to determine
when an opinion is being expressed vs when facts
are offered.
• You need to go a bit deeper to discover the
assumptions that support your strategy, evaluate if
there is solid evidence to support your views, and
know who the stakeholders are, their points of view
and what other ideas should be explored.
Restate
One of the techniques in reframing used to
separate facts from opinions is “Restating”. It
is used to cultivate creative and critical
thinking skills.
> >>

14. Evaluate Arguments
One evaluates arguments by assessing their quality.
Evaluating arguments simply means analysing your
information objectively for quality and accuracy.
When evaluating an argument, adequately assess whether the
appropriate type of evidence has been used to support it.
Identify types of argument, situations, problems, and biases
within views to better evaluate them and dive deeper into their
potential solutions.

15. Think about the pros and cons of the solution and
identify perceived biases
Never accept information at face value. Always ensure to
ask the “What If” questions to asses if the direction is
right
Focus on Decision Criteria; a systematic decision process that
allows you to go on a targeted search for information relevant for
making decision. It can help you assess what the best alternatives
look like including their characteristics.
01
02
03
Evaluating Arguments; The Techniques
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16. Draw Conclusions
• This is about making sure that your decisions logically follow the evidence and the data that is presented. Identify if
there are new facts available that either confirm or refute the decision and if there is a need for an adjustment.
• Identify what specific evidence is driving the conclusion? What does your common sense say, to make sure that's part
of the equation. Identify the risks that are associated with the choice that you're making.
• Always be aware that part of critical thinking is keeping an open mind especially when it comes to decision making

17. Always ask questions; avoid jumping to
conclusions; consider all sides of the
argument and focus on Decision Criteria.
Remember that Critical thinkers make non-
rational choices; they are good at pushing
at pushing back in a constructive way,
influencing the thinking of others, managing
emotions and being able to change people's
mind and their behavior.
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